Controlling means for poweroperated machines



Feb. 25, 1941. F. c. EASTMAN CONTROLLING MEANS FOR POWER-OPERATED MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 20, 1959 Feb. 25, 1941. F. c. EASTMAN 2,232,698

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR POWER-OPERATED MACHINES 7 Original Filed July 20, 1939 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES CONTROLLING MEANS FOR PUVVER- OPERATED MACHINES Fred C. Eastman, Marblehead, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Borough of Flemington, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Original application July 20, 1939, Serial No. 285,553. Divided and this application August 4, 1939, Serial No. 288,363

16 Claims.

This invention relates to controlling means for power-operated machines, and more particularly to means whereby a power-operated member or machine, after having been brought to a stop, is thereafter automatically started again in operation. The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in controlling means intended to form part of a lasting machine constructed as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,224,146, granted on December 10, 1940 on an application of mine, an object being to cause the machine automatically to resume its cycle of operations after it has been brought to a stop to allow time for the heating of lasting cement previously applied to the shoe. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited in utility to machines of that character, but is applicable to various uses.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention provides novel fluid-operated mechanism for automatically starting a power-operated member again in operation after the member has been brought to a stop. Advantages of fluidoperated mechanism for this purpose are that such mechanism may be of simple construction, may be readily combined with known means for initiating and terminating a cycle of machine operations, and is easily controllable to vary as desired the time a power-operated member or machine remains at rest. For the latter purpose, the invention provides adjustable means for variably restricting the flow of fluid to the fluidoperated starting mechanism. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the fluid-operated mechanism is arranged to actuate or trip a clutch which is initially actuated by the operator to start a cycle .of operations and is thereafter controlled by cam-means first to interrupt the cycle and finally to terminate the cycle. interruption of the cycle a valve is automatically operated to admit fluid to' the fluid-operated starting mechanism, so that this mechanism will actuate the clutch to cause a resumption of the cycle after an interval deter-mined by the rate at which the fluid is permitted to flow to the mechanism.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of a portion of the machine Prior to such shown in the above-mentioned Letters Patent, with features of the present invention embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a view also ,partly in side elevation and partly in section, on a smaller scale than Fig. 1, showing a portion of the structure in greater detail;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-III of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, showing also certain parts located below those shown in Fig. 3. 1

Themachine is provided with a cam shaft 2 which serves as a power-operated member for imparting operative movements to various parts in a cycle of operations represented by one complete revolution of the cam shaft. Fast on the cam shaft 2 is a worm gear 4 engaged and operated by a worm 6 fast on a driving shaft 8, so that the shaft 2 is driven by the shaft 8. Keyed .to the shaft 8 is a sleeve It] on which is rotatably mounted one member l2 of a friction clutch, this member being driven continuously by meansv not herein shown. Arranged to cooperate with the clutch member I2 is another clutch member M which carries a friction ring I 6 arranged to engage either a friction face I8 on the member 12 or a braking surface 20 on the frame of the machine. The clutch member M is mounted to slide lengthwise of the shaft 8, but is connected to the shaft to turn therewith by pins 22 fast in its hub portion and extending into holes formed in a member 24 pinned to the shaft. A spring 28 bearing against the member 24 and the clutch member Hi tends to move the latter into position to be driven by the cooperating clutch member ii. The member 114 is controlled by a yoke 28 mounted to turn with a shaft 3K1 supported in bearings in the frame, the yoke carrying shoes (not shown) which lie in a groove 32 in the hub of the member it. Fast on the shaft 38 is an arm 3d (Fig. 2) on which is secured a latch 38 normally engaged underneath by a shoulder 35 formed on a block W to hold the yoke 28 in such a position that the clutch member M is disconnected from the member f2 and the ring it is in contact with the braking surface 26. The block 50 is carried by an arm 42 pivotally suspended at its upper end on one arm of a bell-crank lever i l pivoted on a rod 43 on the frame, the other arm of this bell-crank lever being provided with a roll 48 which lies in a cam track 50 formed in one's'ide of a cam member 52 fast on the cam shaft 2. A spring 54 connected to the arm 42 and to the frame tends to swing the arm rearwardly, i. e., toward the right as the .parts are viewed in Fig. 1, and thus holds the arm normally in a position determined by engagement of the block 40 with the latch 36. At its lower end the arm 42 extends through a slot 56 formed in a substantially horizontal bar 58 and carries a pin 60 arranged to be engaged by shoulders 62 on the .bar. The bar 58 is pivotally connected at its front end to an upwardly extending arm 64 fast on a rock shaft 56, and a spring 68 connected to the arni' tends to swing it in a rearward direction and thus to hold the rear end of the bar 50 against the head of a screw I0 mounted in a bracket on the frame. The rear end of the bar is supported underneath on the upper end of a screw I2 in this bracket and is held down on this screw by a spring I4. Fast on the rock shaft 66 is a treadle I6. It will thus be seen that when this treadle is depressed the bar 53 is moved in a forward direction and acts on the pin 60 to swing the arm 42 in the direction to disengage the block 40 from the latch 35, thus permitting the spring 26 to move the clutch member I4 into position to be driven by the member I2. In order to bring the machine to a stop the arm 42 is lowered by the action of the cam track 50 on the bell-crank lever 44 to carry the shoulder 38 on the block 40 to a position lower than the latch 36 and to disengage the pin 60 from the shoulders 02 if the operator is still holding the treadle depressed. This permits the spring 54 to swing the arm rearwardly until the shoulder 38 is under the latch, after which the arm is lifted by the cam track 50 to disconnect the clutch members from each other and stop the machine. The machine is thus stopped early in the cycle of operations, for a purpose hereinbefore explained, by the action of a portion l8 of the cam track 50; For another purpose explained in the previously mentioned Letters Patent the cam track 50 in the construction shown is so formed as to bring .the machine once more to a stop in the course of the cycle of operations before finally bringing it to a stop at the end of the cycle.

After the machine has been brought to a stop in the manner above described by the action of the portion 18 of the cam track 50, it is started again automatically, after a predetermined short interval, by fluid-operated means. For this purpose there is provided a piston 80 movable in a cylinder 82 which is part of a casting 84 bolted, together with a plate 86, to the frame of the machine. A diametrically reduced extension 88 of the piston projects outwardly through a bore in the cylinder 82, and threaded in this extension is a rod 90 having asquare head 92 provided with a pin 94 which serves as a pivotal support for the forked rear end of a bar 96. This bar extends forwardly at opposite sides of the arm 42 (Fig. 3) and rests on a pin 98 carried by the arm. A spring I00 mounted between 2. lug on the head 92 and a lug on the bar 96 tends to swing the bar downwardly and thus holds it pressed against the pin 98. The bar 96 has thereon shoulders I02 which, in response to forward movement of the piston 80, engage the pin 98 and swing the arm 42 in the direction to release the latch 36 and thus actuate the clutch to start the machine. Such movement of the piston is efiected against the resistance of a spring I04 (Fig. 1) which serves later to return the piston to its initial position determined by engagement of a boss I06 thereon with the .plate 86. That portion of the cylinder 82 in which the spring I04 is mounted 'ber 52.

is in communication with the atmosphere through a vent I08.

For imparting operative movement to the piston 00 in the machine to which the invention is herein shown as applied use is conveniently made of lubricating oil supplied by a rotary pump I It (Fig. 4) with which the machine is provided, this pump being driven continuously from the clutch member I2 by a belt III. The pump draws oil from an open reservoir II2 through a pipe H4 and delivers the oil through a pipe II6 to a cylindrical bore I58 (Fig. 4) in the casting 84. In this bore is mounted a rotary valve I20 having in one side thereof a recess I22 which normally establishes communication between the pipe Ill) and another pipe I 24 leading to the parts of the machine to be lubricated. A short turning movement of the valve I20 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4), effected by means hereinafter described, serves to interrupt communication between the pipe I24 and the pipe H6 and to establish communication between the latter and a port I25 in the casting 84, this port leading to a needle valve I28 threaded in the casting and controlling communication with a port I30 opening into a passage I32 which leads into the cylinder 82. The needle valve permits the oil to flow only very slowly into the cylinder, and the time which elapses before the piston 80 is moved far enough to start the machine is determined by adjustment of this valve. For purposes of such adjustment a diametrically enlarged portion of the valve which is threaded in the casting 84 is connected by a coupling member I34 to a rod .530 which extends forwardly through the front of the frame of the machine and has on its front end a hand wheel I 32 for turning it. The coupling member I34 comprises a rod bent to provide portions at right angles to each other which are mounted respectively in a hole in the valve member and a hole in an enlarged head on the rod I35 to serve as a universal joint. Mounted on a portion of the pipe I I6 (Fig. 4) is a relief valve I controlled by a spring I42 which permits the valve to open in response to pressure of the oil against it, so that excess oil delivered by the pump returns through a port 144 to the reservoir II2 when the oil is diverted into the cylinder 82 as above described. It will be understood that at this time the oil in the cylinder is under sufficient pressure to operate the piston by reason of the resistance of the spring I42 to the opening of the valve I40.

For turning the valve I20 as above described, there is fast on a stem M6 on one end of the valve a crank arm I48 connected by a link I50 to an arm I52 (Fig. .1) mounted to swing about the rod 46, this arm being provided with a roll I54 for engaging the periphery of thecam mem- Aspring [56 connected to the link I50 tends to lift the link andholds the roll I54 initially 'in engagement with the cam member, as shown in Fig. 1. Formed on thismember is a cam I58 which acts on the roll I54 andswings the arm I52 downwardly to move the valve I20 'to start it again, :the shoulders I02 ":being spaced somewhat initially ;from (the pin 23. After the machine has been started by the action of the piston 80, the cam 158 permits the valve I20 to be returned to its initial position by the spring I55. With the valve in this position the oil in the cylinder 82 is returned to the reservoir H2, as the piston is returned by the spring I04, through a passage l6!) in the valve, this passage communicating through a port [$2 in the side of the valve with a passage lfi l in the casting 4 which communicates with the passage I32 leading to the cylinder. In view of the shape of the cam member 52, which might permit further turning of the valve I20 by the spring I55 later in the cycle, the normal position of the valve is determined by a pin I66 (Fig; 1) which is mounted in the casting 85 and extends laterally into a peripheral slot I58 in the valve, this slot being of such length as to permit the required turning of the valve to admit oil to the cylinder 82 as above described.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1L In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination with a power-operated member, and means for stopping the operation of said member, of fluid-operated mechanism for automatically starting said member again in operation after a predetermined interval, and means for variably restricting the flow of the operating fluid to said mechanism to vary the time said member remains at rest.

2. In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination with a power-operated member, and means for stopping the operation of said member by disconnecting it from the source of power, of fluid-operated mechanism for thereafter starting said member again in operation, and means controlled by said member for initiating the action of said fluid-operated mechanism before the member thus comes to a stop.

3. In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination with a power-operated member, and means for stopping the operation of said member by disconnecting it from the source of power, of fluid-operated mechanism for thereafter starting said member again in operation, a valve for admitting fluid to said mechanism, and means controlled by said member for automatically operating said valve thus to admit the fluid.

4. In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination with a power-operated member, and automatic means for stopping the operation of said member, of fluid-operated mechanism for thereafter starting said member again in operation, a valve for admitting fluid to said mechanism, means controlled by said member for automatically operating said valve thus to admit the fluid, and another valve for variably restricting the flow of the operating fluid to said mechanism to vary the time said member remains at rest.

5. In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination with a power-operated member, a clutch through which said member is operated, and means for controlling the clutch to stop the operation of said member, of fluid-operated mechanism for thereafter controlling the clutch to start said member again in operation, and automatic means for initiating the action of said fluid-operated mechanism.

6. In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination with a power-openated member, a clutch through which said member is operated, and means for controlling the clutch to stop the operation of. said member, of fluid-operated mechanism for thereafter controlling the clutch to start said member again in operation, and means operated by said member for initiating the action of said fluid-operated mechanism.

7. In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination with a power-operated member, a clutch through which said member is operated, and means operated by said member for controlling the clutch to stop the operation of the member, of fluid-operated mechanism controlled by said member for thereafter automatically actuating the clutch to start the member again in operation.

8. In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination with a power-operated member, a clutch through which said member is operated, clutch-actuating means movable by'the operator to start the operation of said member, and cam-operated mechanism for controlling the clutch automatically to stop the operation of said member, of fluid-operated mechanism for, thereafter actuating the clutch independently of any control by the operator to start the member again in operation.

9. In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination with a power-operated member, a clutch through which said member is operated, and means for controlling the clutch to stop the operation of said member, of fluid-operated mechanism for thereafter controlling the clutch to start said member again in operation, a valve for admitting fluid to said mechanism, and means controlled by said member for automatically operating said valve thus to admit the fluid.

10. In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination with a power-operated member, a clutch through which said member is operated, clutch-actuating means movable by the operator to start the operation of said member, and cam-operated mechanism for controlling the clutch automatically to stop the operation of said member, of fluid-operated mechanism for thereafter actuating the clutch to start the member again in operation, a valve for admitting fluid to said mechanism, and means controlled by said member for automatically operating said valve thus to admit the fluid.

11. In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination With a power-operated member, a clutch through which said member is operated, and means for controlling the clutch to stop the operation of said member, of fluid-operated mechanism for thereafter automatically controlling the clutch to start said member again in operation after a predetermined interval, and means for variably restricting the flow of fluid to said mechanism to vary the time said member remains at rest.

12. In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination with a power-operated member, a clutch through which said member is operated, and means for controlling the clutch to stop the operation of said member, of fluid-operated mechanism for thereafter automatically controlling the clutch to start said member again in operation after a predetermined interval, means controlled by said member for admitting fluid to said mechanism and thus initiating the action of the mechanism, and means for variably restricting the flow of fluid to said mechanism to vary the time said member remains at rest.

13. In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination with a power-operated member, a clutch through which said member is operated, and means operated by said member for controlling the clutch to stop the operation of the member, of fluid-operated mechanism for thereafter actuating the'clutch to start said member again in operation, a valve for admitting fluid to said mechanism, means controlled by said member for automatically operating said valve thus to admit the fluid, and another valve for variably restricting the flow of fluid to the mechanism to vary the time said member remains at, rest.

14. In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination with a power-operated shaft, a clutch through which said shaft is operated, a member movable by the operator to trip said clutch and thus start the operation of said shaft, and automatic means for controlling the clutch through said member to stop the eration of the shaft, of fluid-operated mechanism for thereafter moving said member to trip the clutch and thus start the shaft again in operation, and automatically controlled valve mechanism for admitting fluid to said mechanism.

15, In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination with a power-operated shaft, a clutch through which said shaft is operated, a member movable by the operator to trip said clutch and thus start the operation of said shaft, and automatic means for controlling the clutch through said member to stop the operation of the shaft, of fluid-operated mechanism for thereafter moving said member to trip the clutch and thus start the shaft again in operation, and means operated by said shaft for initiating the action of said fluid-operated mechanism before the shaft thus comes to a stop.

16. In controlling means for power-operated machines, the combination with a power-operated shaft, a clutch through which said shaft is operated, a member movable by the operator to trip said clutch and thus start the operation of said shaft, and automatic means for controlling the clutch through said member to stop the operation of the shaft, of a fluid-operated device for thereafter moving said member to trip the clutch and thus start the shaft again in operation, automatically controlled means for admitting fluid tosaid device to move it in the direction thus to operate said member, and a spring for thereafter imparting return movement to said device.

FRED C. EASTMAN. 

